International Alumnus of the Year

The metaphor “students as seedlings” captures the essence of 2025 Southern Cross University International Alumnus of the Year, Professor Sisira Ediriweera.

A Forrest Ecologist, university leader and conservationist, he has cultivated growth and resilience in Sri Lanka’s rainforests, and in the next generation of scientists.

“To be recognised by Southern Cross after so many years means a great deal,” Sisira says. “It validates my efforts in research, education and community work over nearly two decades.”

Growing up in a small rural village in Sri Lanka, “I was captivated by the beauty of trees and flowers,” he recalls. That fascination led him to study forestry and biology, followed by a Master of Philosophy in seedling ecology.

A chance email changed everything. While completing his Master’s, Sisira needed a paper by Professor J. Doland Nicholls from Southern Cross University (SCU). When he reached out directly, the professor’s generous response sparked a lasting connection.

“He introduced me to the School of Environment, Science and Engineering, and to another Sri Lankan professor there,” Sisira says. “That connection inspired me to apply for a PhD.”

In 2009, Sisira was awarded both the International Postgraduate Research Scholarship and the SCU Postgraduate Scholarship, beginning doctoral studies in biophysical remote sensing under his then supervisors, Professor Sumith Pathirana, Professor Nicholls and Professor Alison Specht and adjunct supervisor Tim Danaher. His pioneering research applied airborne LiDAR technology to measure vegetation structure and biomass in subtropical rainforests.

“We collected data over Border Ranges and Richmond Range National Parks,” he says. “Our models could estimate forest height and biomass, reducing the need for intensive fieldwork. It was exciting to apply cutting-edge tools to understand forests in new ways.”

His 2013 PhD produced three widely cited papers that reinforced SCU’s global reputation in environmental science.

His Australian adventures — camping for weeks in remote forests with volunteers and local supporters — posed many challenges. “I came from tropical forests to temperate subtropical ecosystems, and from manual field surveys to advanced remote-sensing technologies,” Sisira remembers. “I was also experiencing a new culture, so the first months were difficult.”

“The Southern Cross community was incredibly supportive. Staff, students, even local people helped before I got my driver’s licence. My wife was studying in Thailand then, and sometimes our little son came to the field site. He would nap under the trees while we measured vegetation,” he laughs. “Those are beautiful memories.”

When he returned to Sri Lanka, Sisira rejoined Uva Wellassa University (UWU), a young national university he had helped establish in 2006.

“We started in a single room provided by the University Grants Commission,” he said. “I led the setup of laboratories, designed degree programs, even imported our first academic book collection.”

Over time, his vision helped transform UWU into a thriving research hub. As Dean of the Faculty of Applied Sciences (2017–2020), he introduced new departments and postgraduate programs, secured over USD 700,000 in World Bank AHEAD funding, and achieved top national quality assurance ratings for UWU’s science programs.

In 2016, Sisira launched the university’s first Higher Degree by Research program that, today, boasts more than 200 postgraduate students. As Director of the Centre for Quality Assurance, he has driven policies and digital systems that promote transparency and continuous improvement.

“We’re building not just infrastructure but a culture of excellence,” he said. “Southern Cross showed me what’s possible in research-led education, and I’ve tried to bring that spirit home.”

Professor Ediriweera’s scientific legacy is equally profound. Since 2018, he has led Sri Lanka’s Sinharaja Forest Dynamics Plot, part of the Smithsonian Institution’s ForestGEO global network of long-term forest monitoring sites. In 2024, the site joined GEOTREES, a major international biomass initiative, linking Sri Lanka’s research to global climate science.

“Our 25-hectare plot has been monitored every five years for 30 years,” he explains. “It’s like a stethoscope for the planet, helping us understand how forests respond to climate change.”

His work has secured over USD 290,000 in international grants, produced 35 peer-reviewed publications - including two in Nature - and positioned UWU as a national research leader.

But this work goes far beyond collecting data. “Science must serve society,” Sisira insists. He works with local communities to restore degraded forests, provide conservation education and build sustainable livelihoods. His projects have restored eight hectares of forest and conserved 15 threatened plant species. “Seeing communities take ownership of conservation is one of the most fulfilling parts of my work.”

A passionate mentor, Professor Ediriweera has supervised numerous postgraduate students, several now continuing research in Australia, Singapore and the United States. “I’m especially proud to support young women in science,” he says. “Two of my former students are now pursuing PhDs, including one in Queensland. Watching them grow reminds me why I love this work.”

Beyond his university, he contributes nationally through the National Forestry Research Committee, Man and the Biosphere Committee, and National Red List Committee, helping shape Sri Lanka’s Forest Sector Master Plan 2021–2030 and environmental policies.

In recognition of his leadership and impact, Sisira has received numerous national honours, and now the prestigious Fulbright Visiting Scholar Award 2025–26. Next year, he will join Yale University to collaborate on global forest science and community-based sustainability initiatives.

“I hope to learn advanced data-integration techniques and explore how research can directly improve people’s lives,” he said. “We’re also developing a partnership between Yale and UWU, much like Southern Cross once gave me that opportunity.”

Reflecting on his journey, Sisira returns to gratitude. “Southern Cross not only educated me, it supported my family. My son even started school in Lismore. Those years shaped my life. Australia and Southern Cross will always have a special place in my heart.”

From a village boy captivated by trees to a global leader in forest ecology and higher education, Professor Sisira Ediriweera has shown that nurturing people and nature are branches of the same tree, each growing stronger when supported by the other.